Chief of the Warrior tribe

Before the begining of the 2003 prep football season Wasilla head coach Nathan Ford said a team priority was to fill two positions with players who can make an impact -- running back on offense and nose guard on defense.

The Warrior coaching staff not only filled the positions, but found one player that could make an impact on both sides of the ball.

Wasilla figured to have senior Jed Wade factor into the running game, but it was thought the 2002 Northern Railbelt All-Conference athlete would remain at linebacker.

But as the Warriors continued to look a player to fill the void left by departed graduate Sam Widmer at nose guard, Wasilla assistant head coach Dan Michael came up with the idea of moving the talented backer forward to the defensive line.

"Mr. Michael thought I could make an impact there," Wade said.

An impact player is what the Warriors needed in the center of their defensive line.

In recent history, Wasilla has been able to count on quality play at the position. Widmer, Matt Gitllein and Josh Nelson are just a few of the players to line up over center since Michael and Ford have been coaching at Wasilla.

Michael said that the goal was to utilize Wade's athleticsm in the new position.

"We wanted to let him loose instead of making him read," Michael said.

Michael said there were several attributes that led him to believe the former all-conference linebacker could have success on the defensive line opposite the center.

"You can't wear him out," Michael said. "He works hard and has natural ability."

Michael said Wade utilizes traits that he brings to the football field from the wrestling mat.

Wade is arguably one of the top athletes ever to wrestle in the state of Alaska.

In three years of competition at the prep level, Wade is yet to lose a match in the state of Alaska.

Wade is looking for his fourth consecutive state wrestling title next spring.

Wade's quickness and balance, skills that have also earned him success on the mat, have allowed Wade to become one of the quicker defensive lineman in the conference.

While many larger, more traditional down linemen simply rush like a bull through the opposing line, Wade uses his quickness in his game.

Though the 5-foot, 10-inch 199-pound Wade is still adjusting to his new position, Wade has made the plays from his new position. He is still learning the difference between being a linebacker and a down lineman.

"In my first game I was not really sure what I was doing," Wade said.

"He's adjusting, when things were going sour, he reverted back to linebacker things," Ford said.

Ford added when Wade settled down, he began to do his job.

"When Jed figures out to keep his pads down he will be unstoppable," Michael said.

And while adjusting to the new spot, Wade has made pivotal plays.

In just his third career game at the position, Wade made a huge play from the nose guard spot to spark the Warriors and lead Wasilla to a 48-6 win over Skyview last week.

With the Warriors ahead by just one point in the second quarter, Wade charged into the backfield, ripped the ball from Skyview running back Jake Bellinger and ran 79 yards for the score.

"No one knows how fast Jed is," Michael said. "He is one of the top three fastest guys on our team."

Wade also blocked a punt, recovered a fumble and recorded countless tackles on defense.

To those who have followed Wasilla football, it may not be a surprise that the Warriors have a player less than 6-0 and 200 pounds at the nose guard position.

"We would love to have a big ole' 270-pounder who is a good athlete to stick there," Michael said. "But we don't always have that. Traditionally at Wasilla we have been small."

According to Michael, Wade's move to nose guard is very similar to when Wasilla moved Nelson to the position. Michael said that Nelson was big, fast and strong, but the Warriors were not getting the performance out of Nelson at linebacker that they needed. So they moved him to nose guard, where he earned first-team all-state honors his senior year.

Widmer, who was one of the top defensive linemen in the conference last year, was also an undersized player who relied on quickness in addition to strength.

Widmer is now playing for the University of Mary in South Dakota.

On the other side of the ball, Wade has used his speed and strength to become a punishing running back in the Warrior ground game.

In the first game of the season, Wade ran for a team-high 103 yards.

Wade rushed for 60 yards against Skyview, gaining most of his yardage between the tackles.

"He has great leg drive and has not put the ball on the ground," Michael said.

It is not only Wade's carries in the backfield that have made him such an important piece to the Wasilla puzzle.

Wade has also established himself as a devesting blocker.

On both of Warrior quarterback Danny Ament's touchdowns in the Skyview win, Wade made the block that allowed the Wasilla signal caller to turn the corner and reach the end zone.

Michael said the only knock on Wade's blocking, is he always asks the Wasilla coach who to block.

And if Wade's blocking, running and play on defense is not enough, he serves as the Warrior punter too.